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"We had to do things for mum that children shouldn't have to do for their parents and we couldn't have done it without the support we received from the Macmillan nurses who were just fantastic."

Sadly, after a short battle, Richard's mum passed away on December 3, 2009 at the age of 51.

"Mum passed away in the early hours of the morning. She had refused to take her tablets the day before, so who knows, maybe she knew," added Richard.

"She had just a few months from her diagnosis but maybe it was good she didn't suffer for too long because she was always up and about and always on the biz."

Richard returned to Windsor on January 19, 2010 but with his dad Alex in ill health he requested a posting back to Northern Ireland.

"I returned home and moved in with dad, we spent that Christmas together but it wasn't the same because mum wasn't there.

"In May 2011 I was on exercise in Ballykinler when my sister Julie called to say dad was taken in to hospital so I made my way home not knowing how bad it was.

In Iraq on Op telic 10

"When I got there he was on a ventilator and his organs had failed. We were told we had to make the decision to turn off the ventilator which was one of the worst things I've ever had to do. I was sitting there looking at my dad, he was my hero and I thought if I can be half the man you are.

"Dad passed away on May 19 aged 55 and I believe he died of a broken heart. He gave up after mum died. She was his best friend and they did everything together."

Having done a little bit of fundraising following his parents' passing, it was a conversation with a colleague that inspired him to sign up for Macmillan's Brave the Shave this year.

"I had toyed with the idea and I mentioned to a friend I wanted to do something for mum's seventh anniversary and that's when I decided to grow my hair and beard until December 3 when I will brave the shave," he said.

"I've been totally blown away by the support I have received and now it has now turned into a real occasion. Meta and Peter Tweed at the Smithfield Arms have been fantastic and that's were I'm going to have it all shaved off. "

Ricky, who left the army in 2012, is well known throughout the local football fraternity having played for Ballymena United, Larne, Carrick Rangers, Ballyclare, Brantwood and Ballymoney, to name but a few, and he has been blown away by the support he has received so far.

"Everyone has been so generous, I started out hoping to raise £300 and now we have raised over £3,000 already," he said.

"I have received signed football shirts from local clubs and also from Northern Ireland players which will be auctioned off on the night and the online auction will end at 10pm on December 1.

"Macmillan Cancer is such a great charity and the work they do is second to none. They were invaluable to us when mum was ill and if I can honour her memory and help raise funds for the great work they do then I will be happy."

To donate to Richard's Brave the Shave and help Macmillan Cancer click here .